Reshma Kewalramani

Reshma Kewalramani was born in Mumbai, India. At age 11, she moved with her family to the United States, settling in Long Island, New York. Her father ran a garment and electronics shop in Manhattan, where she often helped behind the counter, but her family held academic excellence in high esteem and had big dreams for their daughter. Entering college, she enrolled in an intense accelerated program at Boston University that allowed her to earn an undergraduate and medical degree in seven years.

Kewalramani later worked as a transplant nephrologist, studying kidney disease and working in clinical development. Inspired by the impact of new medicines on patients, she realized, as she told TIME magazine, “What I wanted to do was make medicines for patients.” She switched to the biopharmaceutical industry in 2004. Since then, Kewalramani has dedicated her career to discovering and developing innovative treatments.

In 2017, Kewalramani joined Vertex Pharmaceuticals, a Fortune 500 company based in Boston. Three years later, she became its chief executive officer and president, making her the first woman to lead a large, public biotechnology company. Under her leadership, Vertex has reached major scientific and commercial milestones. This includes the development of breakthrough drugs for cystic fibrosis, the first CRISPR-based gene-editing treatment for sickle cell disease, and a new class of FDA-approved nonopioid pain medication.

“I am a physician, executive, immigrant, wife, and mother,” she told Women Who Win. “All of these roles — the experiences I’ve had and the people I’ve met along the way — have helped shape the person and leader I am today.”

For her leadership and contributions to medicine, Kewalramani was named to the 2025 TIME 100 Most Influential People in the World and the TIME100 Health lists. She was also recognized as one of Fortune’s 100 Most Powerful People in Business and a CNBC Changemaker, among other honors.

Published June 2026